Hearing aid device



-Dec. 4, 1945. F. J. FALTICO HEARING AID DEVICE Filed July 2, 1942 FRANK J. FAL-neo Patented Dec. 4, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEARING AID DEVICE Frank J. Fenice, Minneapolis. mimmto The Maico Company Incorporated, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation o! Minnesota Anuman .my z, 1942. serial No. 449,427

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in devices for use by the hard of hearing and more particularly to what may be termed a.

ognized methods of transferring sound wave vibrations to the inner ear. Where an impaired middle ear is the dilculty bone conduction is used, a vibrating member, vibrated at audible frequencies by an electromagnetic translating or motor device, being held against a hearing inducing bone of the head, such as the mastoid bone immediately behind the ear. By reaction principles the bone structure of the head is thus employed as a vibratory structure to conduct the audible frequencies to the inner ear. When circumstances permit, however, the more common air conduction principles may be employed wherein a diaphragm, vibrated by a similar electromagnetic translator device, is caused to impel vibrations in the air through the ear canal to the inner ear.

inasmuch as the condition of each hard of hearing patient will thus dictate. which type of receiver or phone to use, it is evident that a single basic unit capable 0i being adapted with but minor change to either bone or air conduction` use would be o extreme advantage to the distributor or fitter since he would then be required to keep on hand only a'comparatively small stock of basic units and a suitable larger number of the simpler and less expensive interchangeable parts in order te be able to meet all needs.

It is the primary object of'my invention, thereI fore, to provide a device oi this nature embodying a basic or foundation unit carrying the vibratory translating mechanism and capable of being used with either of two types of covers or caps, one of which will make the unit ready for operation as a bone conduction audiphone or receiver while the other will make the unit equally use ful as an air conduction receiver. The interchangeable parts are simple and inexpensive and require no delicate changes or alterations of the basic or foundation unit to be applied thereto.

Another object is to provide a device of this nature in simple, compact, light and durable form having numerous novel features of construction and arrangement facilitating manufacture and maintenance.

These and other more detailed and specic objects will be disclosedV in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a face view er elevation of my device arranged for air conduction use, viewing the same from its working side, and with certain parts broken away to disclose interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a diametrical cross section along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the device arranged for bone conduction use.

Fig. 4 is a diametrical -cross section along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1, the connecting and supporting cap or end member being shown in elevation as detached from the main body ofthe device, and this section being taken at right angles to the plane of the section of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a rear or outer end view of the unit, the connecting and supporting cap being entirely removed therefrom.

Fig. 6 is a side or edge view of the device at more nearly its full size.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to the drawing my device will be seen to comprisea basic or foundation unit made up of a housing or body member In, containing the electromagnetic translating or vibrating mechanism or motor I I, and a supporting and connecting end member or cap I2. For use with such foundation or basic unit I provide an air conduction cap'or closure I3 and a bone conduction cap or closure I4, adapted to be interchangeably iitted on and used vwith such unit. When thus combined the parts form a compact, neat and light, button-like assembly which may be readily and comfortably worn upon the head, the whole being actually of a size on the order of l that shown in Fig. 6 of the original drawing.

The housing or body member I0 is moulded of a plastic, insulating material and comprises a ilat, circular disk-shaped base portion I5 from one face of which projects a narrow, annular shell or ilange I6 of smaller diameter, thus forming a cavity I'I. There is also thus formed an annular radially projecting shoulder` IB entirely around the base while within the shell I6 space and surface are provided for the mechanism Ii. This mechanism comprises a hat, rectangular base or magnet I8 to which at spaced points are secured a pair of pole pieces 20 upon which the magnet windings ZI are wound. Screws 22 secure the pole pieces rigidly upon one side of the magnet 0r base plate I9, said screws being countersunk into the opposite side of the plate. Obviously the parts I9 and 20 will be made of a steel or ferrous material having the requisite magnetic properties. A recess 2l is formed in the base portion Il to receive the magnet Il and screws 24 are passed through the base portion and screwed into the'magnet to secure the entire mechanism in place. The heads of these screws are countersunk into the outer side of the base portion as clearly shown.

A substantial space exists between the edges of Vthe magnet I! and the interior of the shell II and at diametrically opposite points Jack inserts 2i of tubular form are moulded into the base portion, opening at each side thereof. These inserts are metallic and connections are made thereto from the windings 2l as indicated at 20.

The member I2 is also mouldedY of a plastic, insulating material and comprises essentially a ilat circular disk 21 rounded on around one side and edge as at 2l, and ilat at its inner side 2l to ht tightly against the outer side of the base portion I5. Split plugs #Il are extended from the side 29 of this member to iit tightly but removably into the jack inserts 25 and these plugs are secured in such positions by their circumferentially grooved heads 3| which are moulded into the disk. A transverse channel 32 between the heads 3l communicates with a radially extending passage 33 opening at 34 through one edge of the disk 21 so that the cable or cord 25 carrying the leads 36 from the microphone or other appaf ratus (not shown) may be led in and connected to the plugs as indicated at 31.

The air conduction cover or cap I3 is moulded of a plastic insulating material having a circular portion 38 and an annular rim or flange 29 adapted to ilt over and around the shell I6 and seat upon the shoulder I8 of the body member base portion I 5. Screws 40 are passed through said shoulder I8 and into the rim 3! to hold the cover in place, said screws being countersunk into the outer side of the base to permit the member I2 to nt tightly in place. Around its outer margin the rim 39 is extended in the form of a narrow lip 4I which lits around the circumferential margin of the shoulder I8 and ends flush with the outer surface of the base portion and with the peripheral edge of the member I2. The comblnation of the cover I3 (or Il) and the member I2 thus completely encloses and protects the body member I carrying the vibrating mechanism and conceals all mounting-screws as will be evident.

At its center the'cap or cover i3 has an opening 42 into which isntted an insert or plug 42 having a. central bore 44. A thin circular diaphragm 45 is placed over the end of the shell Ii before the cover is put in place and is then held thereby in proper position over the ends of the pole pieces 20 with an air gap determined by the position of these ends relative to the plane of the end of the shell, as clearly seen in Fig. 2. A damper 46 is secured to the diaphragm II and manner as cap Il. The same screws Il may be used for fastening this cover also. However, a heavy bone oscillator diaphragm or armature l2 is moulded or otherwise secured in the center oi' the cap portion 4l to be supported thereby with proper air gap relation to the ends of the pole pieces 2t. This diaphragm is smaller in diameter than the cap and the center portion Il of the cap carrying the diaphragm is thinner than is'the corresponding center portion of the gneonduction cap.

The edges of both caps Il-Il are rounded as at 5I to blend with the rounded edge of the member I2. v

In use a headband of usual form is secured by a suitable iltting (neither here shown) to the member I2 so that the device may be worn or supported upon the head. Obviously the connection of member I2 to the headband permits the convenient removal of the body unit from the band simply by pulling the plugs 20 from the jacks 25 when it is desired to work upon or replace the unit.

For air conduction use, then, the cap I3 is placed on the foundation unit and the entire device is worn with the cap centered over the ear and the plug 42 partially entering the ear. vThe diaphragm l5 will then be vibrated by the mechanism I l setting up sound wave vibrations in the air and conducting said vibrations to the ear in usual manner. For use as a bone conduction unit. on the other hand, the cap I3 is replaced by cap I4 on the foundation unit and the cap is now worn in contact with the mastoid bone behind the ear, or other hearing inducing bone. The vibrations of the armature 52 will then impart similar vibrations to the center portion 49 of the cap which, coupled to the bone, will by reaction cause the requisite vbratory eiect in the bone structure of the head to conduct the sound to the inner ear.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a single foundation unit may be easily and quickly adapted to use either as an air conduction or direct action receiver, or as a bone conduction or reaction type audiphone, merely by changing caps and diaphragms. Obviously the proper cooperative relationship between diaphragms and the poles of the electromagnetic vibrating unit will be maintained since the caps will be properly dimensioned to this end.

It is understood that suitable modiiications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modiilcations come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

freedom for movement thereof is provided by a y recess I1 formed in the interior surface of the cover. It will be noted that this interior surface of the cover has an annular ledge Il adapted to bear against the margin of the diaphragm and press the same against the body member when the screws 40 are drawn tight. The diaphragm 45 is essentially a part of the cap I 3 since it is applied to and removed from the basic unit with said cap, and the diaphragm may in fact be attached to the cap around its edge if so desired.

The bone conduction cover or cap I4 is similar in that it has a moulded center or -wall portion 4l and annular rim 50 with an extended lip II to fit over theshell Il and shoulder Il inthesame 1. A wearable hearing aid device comprising a basic unit including a body member and an electromagnetic motor mechanism, and interchangeable cap members adapted for mounting on said body member, one oi said cap members having an opening for air conduction to the ear, a diaphragm adapted to be supported by that cap in cooperative relationship to the Vmotor mechanism, and the other cap having a thin wall and a diaphragm adapted to be supported thereby in cooperative relationship with the motor mechanism for vibrating the cap itself and adapting l the cap for bone conduction use.

of caps adapted for interchangeable use upon the basic unit, one of said caps including a vibrating diaphragm adapted for air conduction coupling to the ear, and the other cap including a rela-y tively heavier diaphragm adapted to vibrate the cap itself for bone conduction coupling.

3. A wearable hearing aid device of the character described, comprising a. basic unit including a body member, an electromagnetic motor means supported by said body member, a pair of caps adapted for selective application to and fastening on the body member and each having a diaphragm member adapted to cooperate with the said motor means and to be vibrated thereby, one of said caps having an opening for conducting sound wave vibrations from itsdiaphragm, and the other cap having a wall portion capable of vibration and to which its diaphragm is rigidly secured.

4. A wearable hearing aid device of the character described, comprising a basic unit including abody member, an electromagnetic motor means supported by said body member, a pair of caps adapted for selective application to and fastening on the body member and each having a diaphragm member adapted to cooperate with the said motor means for vibration thereby, one of said caps having an openingY for conducting sound wave vibrations from its diaphragm, and the other cap havinga wall portion capable of vibration and to which its diaphragm is rigidly secured, both of said caps being adapted to seat against a surface of the said body member to hold the diaphragms in proper air gap relationship with the motor means.

FRANK J. FALTICO. 

